It's finally here. The return of the Premier League is upon us, with two games set to take place on June 17, bringing an end to the suspension 100 days after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the English top-flight to halt the 2019/20 season.
The first of two games to get things back underway is Aston Villa vs Sheffield, a showdown between a team fighting relegation and another battling to qualify for Europe. The second fixture is the standout game, however, with Man City hosting Arsenal in what should be a thrilling tie.
Here are the first 10 Premier League fixtures
Excited for the return of the Premier League? Ready to welcome back the world's most popular championship? Here are all the key stats and info about the 2019/20 season to refresh your memories and get everyone prepared for the English top-flight.
Who are the title contenders?
First of all, here's how things left off
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | +44 | 73 | WWWDD | |
| 2 | Arsenal | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 75 | 26 | +49 | 71 | LWWDW | |
| 3 | Liverpool | 32 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 31 | +41 | 71 | LDWWD | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 33 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 63 | WDLWD | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | +16 | 60 | LWDWL | |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 52 | +17 | 50 | WWDWL | |
| 7 | Manchester United | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 | DDLDW | |
| 8 | West Ham United | 33 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 58 | -6 | 48 | LWDLD | |
| 9 | Chelsea | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 61 | 52 | +9 | 47 | WDWDW | |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 44 | DLDLW | |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 43 | DLDLW | |
| 12 | Fulham | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 42 | WLLDW | |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 47 | 57 | -10 | 42 | DLWWW | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 32 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 37 | 54 | -17 | 33 | WLLDD | |
| 15 | Brentford | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 58 | -11 | 32 | WDDDL | |
| 16 | Everton | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 48 | -16 | 27 | LWDLL | |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 58 | -16 | 26 | DLWDD | |
| 18 | Luton Town | 33 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 46 | 70 | -24 | 25 | LWLLD | |
| 19 | Burnley | 33 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 68 | -35 | 20 | DLDDW | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 32 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 84 | -54 | 16 | LDLDD |
Unfortunately, as you can see from the standings, there are no title contenders as the Premier League crown has been all but won by Liverpool. The team closest to the Reds are Man City, with Klopp's side boasting a staggering 25-point lead over the Citizens. In fact, Van Dijk and Co. need only two more wins to officially be declared the champions.
Their first game once the season resumes will be against Everton this Sunday. Given that Liverpool have not lost a Merseyside Derby since 2010, the Anfield side are the favorites to emerge triumphant. Their next match after that is a home clash with Crystal Palace in eight days which means by June 24, the Reds could win their first English top-flight title in 30 years, and to make things better, this could occur at Anfield – an empty Anfield, albeit.
Who are the favorites to qualify for next season's Champions League?
So far, Liverpool are the only side to have confirmed their spot in next season's Champions League. Man City (57 points) and Leicester City (53 points) sit in second and third, boasting a 12-point and eight-point lead over fifth-placed Man United, respectively. As a result, both sides are likely to make the top four even if they have not yet achieved this mathematically. Unfortunately for the Citizens, a top-four finish might not be enough to make UEFA's premier club competition in 2020/21 due to their European ban. The Abu Dhabi-owned club have lodged an appeal to the CAS but if the suspension is upheld, they will miss out on the Champions League next season regardless of their finish.
As for the fourth spot, Chelsea currently occupy that position with 48 points. However, their grip is not firm as ninth-place Arsenal are only eight points away. Man United (5th), Wolves (6th), Sheffield (7th), and Tottenham (8th) are also vying to usurp the Blues. Lampard's men boast a three-point lead over the Red Devils and thus are the favorites to grab that spot. If Man City get banned from the Champions League, then the fifth-placed team would qualify in their place. Unfortunately, Wolves and Sheffield are only three points behind Solskjaer's side. The gap with Spurs is four points and with the Gunners, it is five.
NOTE: Both Man United and Wolves remain in the Europa League and are competing in the round of 16. If one of these teams win the title, they will be England's fifth representative in next season's Champions League regardless of their Premier League finish.
Who are the favorites to qualify for next season's Europa League?
If Man City are allowed entry to the Champions League next season
If Man City are allowed entry to the Champions League in 2020/21, then the Europa League ticket will go to whichever team to finish in fifth. Currently, Man United occupy that spot but as mentioned above, Wolves and Sheffield are only three points behind while north London duo Tottenham and Arsenal are four and five points behind the Red Devils, respectively.
Furthermore, the winners of the FA Cup and League Cup are also awarded tickets to the Europa League but since both tournaments could be or have been won by a top five side, then those slots will go to the sixth and seventh placed teams, currently Wolves and Sheffield.
If Man City are banned from the Champions League next season
If Man City are banned from the Champions League, then the fifth-placed team (currently Man United) will qualify for that competition. That means the Europa League ticket will pass down to the sixth-placed team, a slot Wolves currently occupy, and will likely be joined by the clubs that finish in seventh and eighth. Sheffield hold the seventh spot but the seventh eighth is a toss between Tottenham and Arsenal for now.
Which teams are fighting relegation and who are the favorites to go down?
Unfortunately, Pukki's Norwich appear destined to bow out of the Premier League despite only earning promotion this season as they are dead bottom in the standings. Aston Villa are in danger of also heading back down to the Championship as they are second from bottom with 25 points. Bournemouth are in 18th with 27 points, meaning they too are in the danger zone, but the Cherries are level on points with 17th-placed Watford and 16th-placed West Ham. Brighton, who are in 15th with 29 points, are not yet out of the woods. Southampton, in 14th with 34 points, should be safe.
Who are the top 5 goalscorers?
Who are the top assist makers?
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Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): 16 assists
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Trent Alexander-Arnold: 12 assists
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Riyada Mahrez (Man City): 8 assists
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Roberot Firmino, Emiliano Buendia, Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson, David Silva, Son Heung-Min, Adama Traore: 7 assists each
